Mardi Gras

Here are some fun ways to get involved in Mardi Gras Festival.

Most Romantic Dessert Contest (NEW)
To sign up for the "Most Romantic Dessert" contest (sponsored by LoveTownUSA and the Downtown Merchants Association), email romanticdesserts@gmail.com. Desserts should be brought to the designated area at the Gilman Waterfront Park between 12:00 and 1:00 on February 18th. Judging will begin at 1:00. Individuals, businesses and restaurants are encouraged to enter.
Chili Cook-off from 11 am to 2 pm at Waterfront Park.
Enter your own team or judge for yourself.

Pet Parade at Waterfront Park
Registration at noon. (Entry fee is bag of dogfood or $5 to benefit Humane Society). Parade at 1:00 p.m.

Mardi Gras Ball 7 pm at Southern Junction Tickets can be purchased for $35 at Once Upon a Bookseller and St. Marys Welcome Center

Get your Mardi Gras beads at Once Upon a Bookseller

More details for the events of the day.

MEDIA CONTACT: JOLENE HANEY, 912-467-2119, email: jolenehaney@gmail.com After being awarded the Southeast Tourism Society's designation of "Top 20 Events in the Southeast," the 18th Annual Mardi Gras Festival has taken on a new lineup of events to draw greater crowds than ever.

Celebrity matchmakers from the OWN Network's LovetownUSA series that will air this summer will serve as grand marshals of the parade that begins at 10:00 a.m. in Downtown St. Marys. The grand marshals will ride on a LoveTownUSA-themed float. After the parade, attendees can browse more than 100 arts, crafts, and food vendors; partake in the Chili Cook-off, Pet Parade, and Most Romantic Dessert Contest, and enjoy two stages of entertainment throughout the afternoon.

When the sun goes down, and the lights come up, festivities continue at the annual Mardi Gras Ball to be held at Southern Junction. A new king and queen will be chosen at the ball in the tradition of New Orleans' grandest balls, and the Rosie Kelly award for community service will be presented.
The St. Marys' War of 1812 commemoration will kick off at the festival with costumed re-enactors marching in the parade and events enacted at Orange Hall to include:

• Silver Wind Ensemble: 3 flautists playing classical music of the period
• A Soldier's Life: Life in the military during the War of 1812
• Point Peter Diorama: A discussion of the last battles of the War of 1812
• Slave songs, spirituals and songs of the period
• Women of the Times: The Plantation owner's wife, a school teacher and a slave discuss their lives in Camden County in 1812
• A One-room Schoolhouse: Presented by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR); See what a student was taught in 1812
• Plein-Air Artists: Period scenes being painted at the Clark Customs House and the display of their work at the St. Marys Welcome Center. Models and scenes provided by The Crooked River Players
• The Spirit of 1812 Quilt Raffle: Drawing will be held at 3:00pm
• Tri-corner Hat Making: Children can decorate and wear replicas of military hats